In Science Daily Online we are fascinated by animals, and especially those more curious and less known, such as the red panda, or the desert rain frog.Precisely the peculiarities of many of these, have led to be in danger of extinction and are the reason why they suffer much more human rigors.As this we present now: the friendly and little known pangolin.
How is this animal?
Let's start by saying that it belongs to the order of the folidotos ; It is the only mammal with scales , which give it a distant resemblance to the armadillo , but they have nothing to do with each other.8 species are known, all endangered.
Lives in tropical areas of Asia (those of the genus Manis ) and Africa (those of the genus Phataginus ).Asian pangolins stand out because they have external auditory pavilions and scales under the tail.Their name, from the Malaysian pengguling , means roller .
These scales are long, hard and shaped like plates, something really unusual among mammals.There are those who describe them as “artichokes with legs”, so you can get an idea.
They roll over themselves forming a ball when they feel threatened and their scales look then like a gleaming protective armor .
This creature has powerful and short legs, with sharp claws, that it uses to dig hardened earth, but if necessary it also defends itself with them, being able to start a human leg with a single blow.
Another defense strategy is the emission of a fetid acid, that exhales thanks to glands close to the anus, similar to the one segregated by the skunks or skunks .It is too bad that such a defense capacity has not protected it more effectively from human greed.
Its size ranges between 65 cm species Smaller up to 1.76 m in the larger ones, its tail being very long and measuring half its body or sometimes the same size.They usually carry their young on it.
Impressive, isn't it?
Other faces cteristicas
There are species of pangolins that are terrestrial , like the giant pangolin of Africa; He lives in open areas and digs his burrows in the middle of the savannah.There are others, such as the Chinese, which are arboricolas , and help each other with their long tail to climb the trees.
Almost all species are nocturnal , although there are some diurnal ones.That has made it difficult to study their behavior, their habits and their reproduction, although it is known that the female usually gives birth only one offspring, and that they live either alone or in pairs.
They feed on insects , and for this they use their vigorous claws to break the termites, and their very long tongue to catch them, impregnated with a sticky saliva.It has no teeth, so it does not know how to chew; This is why he accumulates stones in his stomach that help him crush what he eats.
In one year it can consume up to seven million ants and termites!
Why is it so quoted? Why do they hunt it out of control?
It is the mammal that is most illegally traded in the world.It is said that its scales are powerful remedies for everything from cancer to boils, and they have magical properties ; his blood is aphrodisiac (and in some restaurants in Vietnam they are served alive to cut their throat on the table, so they can drink it as fresh as possible) and their meat is a delicacy.
The kilo of scales is sold at the bizarre price of 1,500 dollars , in “specialized” stores of traditional medicine, the sellers knowing that it is an illegal activity.Your meat in restaurants can cost 250 dollars a kilo .
And like worms in mezcals, they also sell bottles of wine from rice with tiny pangolins inside. 200 dollars a bottle!
20, 30 years ago pangolins were very common in the Vietnamese forests , but they have been disappearing uncontrollably and quickly by the traffickers who hunt them for tons, alive or dead (although alive they are more valuable), and sell them fresh, frozen, gutted and skinless. More than 100,000 pangolins a year are taken to countries such as China, Malaysia or Indonesia.The specimens are disappearing in Southeast Asia and therefore the attention is given It now applies to those in Africa.
Any protection initiative?
Very few, unfortunately for these beautiful animals.In Vietnam there is an NGO called Save Vietnam's Wildlife (“Save the wildlife of Vietnam”) that collaborates with the Vietnam Forest Protection Department .band of smugglers , accused by other rival gangs, but the truth is that practically nothing has been done to stop the sale of pangolins.
When they confiscate specimens, they take them to a rescue center in the Cuc Phuong National Park , south of Hanoi, capital of Vietnam.
But pangolins do not know how to live in captivity and usually die.Besides, as little is known of them, it is difficult il its conservation.Only six zoos around the world have a specimen.Perhaps that is why in the West there has been little talk of this beautiful creature, whipped by human ambition and unconsciousness.
Did you like it? this article? Then you might also be interested in the horseshoe crab.
Images: Esther Simpson, Ruslan Rugoals, Daphne Chui, David Brossard, Ben Franco
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